Vale Tudo Relics: The Life and Times of Helio Gracie

Eternal Impact

Considered one of the most influential figures in martial arts
history, Helio Gracie, the father of modern jiu-jitsu died at the
age of 95 in 2009. He would be 102 years old if he were alive
today. Andre Lazaroni, a state deputy in Rio de Janeiro, paid
homage to Gracie by naming his birthday, Oct. 1, as Vale Tudo Day
in the city. A ceremony was held at Tiradentes Palace, with many
fighters in attendance, including Gracie’s top student, Joao
Alberto Barreto.

MMA, UFC and BJJ: Those acronyms would not exist in their current
forms if it were not for the perseverance of Helio and his older
brother, Carlos Gracie. Thanks to them, the martial art that was
brought to Brazil from Japan by Mitsuyo Maeda Koma was preserved
and later transformed into what we now know as vale tudo or mixed
martial arts.

Martial Arts: Religion, Philosophy or Way of
Life?

The Gracie brothers became obsessed with the art they had been
taught by Koma and created a life philosophy based on nutrition,
health and furthering jiu-jitsu. To achieve this, they adopted
strict rules for themselves, and they followed them until their
last days. First, they only had sex with their wives for the
purpose of procreation -- Carlos had 21 children with six wives and
Helio nine with two wives; second, they adhered to a strict diet;
and third, they stipulated that their children’s names could only
start with the consonants K, R or C, basing this on their belief
that a fighter’s strength was in his or her name. They passed these
beliefs down like a religion, through four generations and to more
than 100 descendants.

However, the ways they went about achieving their goals was
difficult. To earn respect for the Gracie name in Brazil, Helio and
Carlos, along with their brothers Gastao, George and Oswaldo, spent
much of their lives challenging opponents from different martial
arts back grounds. They did this in the streets, on the courts and
in rings. Helio fought 17 times and compiled a 9-2-6 record.

Vale Tudo Marathon

(+ Enlarge) | Photo: Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com

Royce thrived in the early UFC.

The historic fight between Helio and Waldemar Santana started with
a disagreement because the latter -- Santana worked washing gis at
the Gracie Academy -- accepted a proposal to face Biriba, who was
well-known for engaging in fixed fights. Helio did not allow
Santana to fight because he did not want the Gracie name associated
with such things. However, Santana took the fight because he needed
the money and defeated Biriba easily.

When informed, Helio was disgusted and banished Santana from the
gym, calling him a “dirty [expletive].” Soon after, the humiliated
Santana was encouraged by journalist Carlos Renato to challenge his
former master. Though Helio was 42 at the time, he decided to get
in the ring on May 24, 1955 in order to teach his onetime student a
lesson.

Even though they agreed to a vale tudo fight, both men entered the
ring wearing kimonos. Santana was 17 years Helio’s junior and
outweighed him by 27 kilograms. The match lasted three hours and 45
minutes. The younger, heavier and stronger Santana spent much of
his time working his ground-and-pound, but Helio stayed tough and
technical, and he resisted his former student’s efforts to the
point of exhaustion. Santana threw him to the ground late in the
fight and connected with a soccer kick to the face, knocking him
unconscious. Helio had never been knocked out before, and he would
never be knocked out again.

Upon Helio’s retirement, nephew Carlson Gracie took his place.
Besides avenging his uncle’s defeat to Santana, he remained
undefeated for almost 20 years.

Bringing Vale Tudo to America

(+ Enlarge) | Photo: Marcelo
Alonso/Sherdog.com

Rickson shined in Japan.

Its superiority effectively showcased in Brazil, Gracie Jiu-Jitsu
spread its wings when Helio’s son, Rorion Gracie, moved to
California in the late 1970s. Rorion split his time between frying
hamburgers, cleaning and teaching jiu-jitsu classes out of a
friend’s garage. He launched the “Gracies in Action” video line,
which showed dozens of challenges won by his relatives. Through it,
Rorion attempted to prove Brazilian jiu-jitsu was the most complete
martial art in the world. He gained some traction in the media with
the help of John Milius, director of “Conan the Barbarian,” and in
1993 created the
Ultimate Fighting Championship. There, Rorion’s brother,
Royce
Gracie, introduced Gracie Jiu-Jitsu to an even wider audience,
as he dominated bigger opponents to win tournaments at UFC 1, UFC 2
and UFC 4.

While Royce shined in the Octagon, brother Rickson
Gracie did the same in Japan, where he defeated six opponents
in two Japan Open tournaments. Their victories shocked the martial
arts world. Vale tudo evolved into what is now modern-day mixed
martial arts, a sport that employs thousands and provides
entertainment for fans all across the globe. Rorion paid tribute to
his father inside the Octagon at UFC 1 in 1993. Helio died from
pneumonia at the age of 95 on Jan. 29, 2009, leaving a behind a
legacy forever synonymous with MMA, the UFC, Brazilian jiu-jitsu
and the Gracie family itself.

***

Helio Gracie: In Quotations

“I’d rather be beaten with morals than to win cowardly. That’s
why I always teach my students there is no shame in losing.”

“My jiu-jitsu is a self-defense art that cannot accept certain
rules and time limits. Those are the reasons why I cannot support
those [competitions] where they practice anti jiu-jitsu.”

“My life started with Carlos Gracie. He was the one who educated
me, led me, taught me about morals and always gave me courage. Even
after I became an adult, he was responsible for me, giving me a
home and food. What I had, I improved; what I didn’t have, I
conquered.”

“Those people who say I’m going ‘gaga’ should put on a gi and come
to fight me to see how ‘gaga’ I am.”

“The truth is that boxing, with gloves and everything, kills 10
fighters a year. No one has died yet in vale tudo.”

“Any man who learns jiu-jitsu becomes more tolerant because he
knows that he can’t be beaten.”

“I fought against men who were twice my size. Why did I beat them
all? Because I had the art of not being beaten. Only I know this
art and I won’t teach it to anybody because I don’t want someone to
beat my children.”

“I never loved any woman because love is a weakness, and I don’t
have weaknesses. Love is sex, and sex is used to procreate.”

“I challenge [Kazushi] Sakuraba to beat me without using any
jiu-jitsu technique.”